Hello people, i would like to test your noggins a little please. we seem to be having somewhat of a heat wave here in blighty with temps around the 30's (brilliant for England) anyways all my chard, rainbow n swiss have all bolted even with daily watering and my brocoli has started now too, i have been cutting the head off the brocs before they flower and eating them and they are chucking out side shoots so not so much of a problem. the chard however has gone mental, and the rest of the family have now expressed to me that they don't like the taste of or the kale for that matter so i thought i would pull it all. my questions are, 1: what can be done to reduce bolting of other veg? and 2: what can i sow straight into the ground in its place? 3: what the heck is that yellow flowering plant i have in my photos (turnips?) Thank you for reading unknown ( photo / image / picture from cakey's Garden ) moderator's note: added a more descriptive title to topic
Heat causes Swiss Chard and broccoli to bolt--nothing you can do about it. Just keep the small side heads of the broccoli picked and enjoyed, and give up on the chard. You can plant green beans or cucumbers where the chard was. Chard and kale that are exposed to high temperatures for more than a few days develops a flavor that not everyone enjoys! Yellow flowered plant? I have no idea, but I bet someone else here can identify it.
One thing you can try is to plant smaller amounts in three week intervals so you can continue with the younger plants in succession. And if they still start to bolt, cut back to about an inch above ground, water well and wait till new shoots grow. The new shoots should still be OK.
Thank you, i have pulled the Chard and got some cucumber, sping onion, courgette, and some Atlantic giant pumpkin seeds just for the hell of it
